Curtain-stretcher.



PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

P. STANFIELD.

CURTAIN STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED A'PR.Z2. 190.7.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

[/VVJA/TGE, Bank 5. Stanfield.

YIII/I/II/III/IIIIII WITNESSES:

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PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

V F. S. STANFIELD.

. CURTAIN STRBTGHER.

APPLIOATIQN FILED APR. 22. 1907. 2 SEEETS SEEET 2 0 2 1 O9 0 QQ 0 W z 0 4 J 4 0 2 -W- 32 v y 33 1 6 3 3 x o i@ @v //AJ f 3 Z 0 w 4 J 4.

ATTYS.

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UNITED STATES FRANK S. STANFIELD,

OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CURTAIN-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed April 22,1907. Serial No. 369,449.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK S. STANrInLn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Curtain- Stretchers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to curtain-stretchers, and it has for its object the production of a device of this character that is simple and economical in manufacture, strong and substantial in structure, and convenient in adjustment. The device, moreover, is capable of being quickly folded into a small compass for shipment or storage, from which condition it can be again easily assembled for use. These and other objects I attain in the structure that is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved curtain stretcher in its assembled and expanded condition; Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of one of the side bars, looking at the same from below, showing the means for adjusting the length of the same, and the connections between said bar and the end and center rails; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through one of the side rails, said view being taken on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one end of the adjustable side bar, showing the means for attaching the same to the end rail; Figs. 5 and 6 show two forms of spring pins suitable for attaching the curtain to the stretcher frame; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1, having portions of the side bars broken away, and showing a somewhat modified form of construction; Fig. 8 is a detailed view of one form of clamping device for theside bars and end rails; Fig. 9 is another form of clamping device for these rails that is employed in the device shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of one of the hinge plates shown in Fig. 7, and Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken 011 line 11-11 of Fig. 7.

Taking up a more specific description by reference to the drawings, in which corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals throughout the several views, A and B represent the side bars, and 1 and 2 the end rails. These bars and rails form an open frame work, being joined together so as to form a substantially rectangular figure. The side bar A is composed of two overlapping members 3 and 4, said members being held together by a clip 5 that extends almost entirely about the same and through which the mem bers may have endwise movement, and by the clamp that is shown specifically in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This clamp consists of a metal plate 6 that rests against the lower face of the member 4, being secured thereto by screws that pass through lugs 7 on said plate and project into the said member. The plate loops around the member 3, fitting the same on all sides, but being left open at one of the lower edges of the member. On one side of this open part of the plate, the latter is continued downwardly a slight distance, and is then turned at right angles as shown at 8, so as to cover the opening, although it is spaced therefrom. On the plate 6 on the opposite side of the said open part, I pivot a cam lever 9, said lever having a handle portion 10 and a flange l1. This flange is intended to engage with the part 8 of the plate 6, said part having an inwardly turned lug behind which the flange engages. The cam also diminishes in height toward each of its ends so that, when the cam lever is turned in either direction, the plate 6 will be clamped against the sides of the member 3. In order to clamp said member at its edges, the flange is formed eccentric to the pivot of the lever, the high part of the cam being nearest the pivot, so that, at the same time the plate is clamped against the sides of the member the edges of the latter will also be clamped.

On the lower sides and at the outer ends of each of the members 3 and 4, I secure a hinge plate 12, said plates being provided with slots 13, through which screws project and extend into the end rails 1 and 2. These screws are formed with enlarged flat heads or with washers 14 that hold the plates against the end rails. The slots are formed on a curve with the inner corners of the members 3 and 4 as centers, so that the end rails may be folded inwardly against the inner edges of said members.

The side bar B is composed of members 15 and 16, said members overlapping and being adjustably secured together by a clip 5 and a clamp like that heretofore described. This side bar is entirely removed when the stretcher is folded, the same being applied during assembling by the clamps shown in Fig. 4, there being one of these clamps at each end of the bar. In said figure, the member 16 and the end rail 2 are shown. To the lower side of the said member I secure a hooked plate 17, and on the opposite side of the member 1 mount a sliding plate 18, to the outer end of which I pivot a cam lever 19, like the cam lever 9, heretofore described. The cam flange on this lever operates against the inwardly turned end 20 of the hooked plate 17, and thus clamps the sides of the end bar between said hooked plate and the plate 18. The plate 18 is guided on the member 16 by means of screws 21, that pass through a slot 22 in said plate and extend into the member, washers bearing against the outer side of the plate. The inner screw, abutting against the end of the slot, forms a stop for the plate 18 to limit its outward movement. The cam flange 011 the lever 19 is also cccentrically arranged, so that, when the lever is turned, the end bar will be clamped at its edges between the end of the member 16 and the plate 17.

requiring the elliptical shape of the plate 35.

Frequently it is desired to stretch some small fabric, such as a lace handkerchief or sash curtain; and for this reason 1 provide the frame with a cross bar 23, said bar being secured by a universal joint to the inner end of the member 3. See Fig. 2. his universal joint consists of hinge 24, one side of which is attached to its corresponding part, as the member 3, by a single screw 25. As shown in Fig. 2 the cross bar 23 is turned outwardly from the member 3 at substantially a right angle. In folding the parts together, it would be turned back so as to lie upon said member, after which it may be turned about the single screw 25 and laid flat upon saidnnember, in which position it may be secured by a staple 26, that is adapted to [it into a socket 27 in the cross bar. The cross bar is also secured in the assembled frame to the member 15 of the side bar B, being held to said member by a clamping device like that shown in Fig. 4. By this construction the cross bar may be brought as near the end rail 2 as may be necessary for stretching a small fabric, while the side bar B may be moved correspondingly near the side bar A. The cross bar 23 also strengthens the assembled structure and prevents the same from sagging.

1n the form that is shown in'Fig. 7, the side bars 0 and D are composed of sections 27-'28 and 29-30. These sections do not slide upon each other while collapsing the frame, as is the case with the form shown in Fig. 1, but they simply fold up against and lie parallel with the center bar 31. The sections 27 and 28 are hinged to the center bar through the medium of the circular plate 32 that is secured to said bar, the sections meeting at their inner ends and having their inner corners substantially over the center of the plate 32. The plate is provided with circularly shaped slots 33 that are concentric with the said inner corners of the sections 27 and 2S, and the sections are secured to the plate by screws and washers, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2 and hereinbefore described. The plate 32 is between the center bar 31 and the sections of the side bar C, so that said sections fold together above the center bar. When the sections are extended, as in Fig. 7, they are held firmly in position by a wing nut 34 that is on a bolt that passes through the center bar from below, said nut compressing the ends of the sections against the center box.

The sections 29 and 30 of the side bar D are adjustably secured to the center bar 31. through the medium of an elliptical plate 35. This end of the bar is slotted at 36, and the plate is held thereto by a bolt 37 that passes through the plate 35, through the slot 36 in the center bar, and through a top plate 38 that slides upon the upper side of the center bar. The plate 35 and the sections 29 and 30 may be held in any position to which they may be moved along the center bar by a wing nut 39 on the lower end of the bolt 37. To prevent the plate 35 from turning, lugs 40 are struck therefrom so as to lie on opposite sides of the said bar.

The sections of the side bar D do not abut at their inner ends, as is the case with the sections of bar 0, but, when extended, they abut against the side of the center bar, so that they may be folded against the sides of said bar. In folding, the sections 29 and 30 turn about their inner corners, and, for this reason, the slots 41 are formed concentric with these corners, this construction The sections 29 and 30 are held to the place by screws and washers 42, the screws traveling in the slots 41, and the washers preventing the screw heads from pulling through the slots.

As will be seen from Fig. 7, the top plate 38 extends over the ends of the sections 29 and 30 when these sections are extended. When, therefore, the nut 39 is screwed tightly against the plate 35, the ends of thesections will be clamped between said plate and the top plate. The end rails 43 and 44 are adjustably mounted on the outer ends of the side bars by means now to be described: The ends of the end rails that are adjacent the side bar G are in the same plane with said bar, and they are held in position and clamped against the bar by the same means that is shown in Fig. 4 and that has been hereinbefore described. On Figs. 7 and 8, the same reference numerals have been employed as in Fig. 4, except as to those relating to the side bar and end rail, which are respectively designated 27 and 43. The end rails and the side bar D must be relatively adjustable, and for that reason, I pass the end rails below the side bar and secure these parts together by means of the clip that is shown in Fig. 9. This clip is formed of a metal band 45 that is bent into a substantially rectangular shape with an opening between the ends. One of the ends 46 lies upon the upper side of the end rail, while the other end, 47, extends to a higher plane, and is provided with 2. lug 48 that projects toward the end 46. Pivoted to the end 46 and engaging with the lug 48 is a cam lever 9, operating, in the same manner as has been described, to clamp the band 45 about the end rails and the side bar. As the bar D slides upon the end rails, and is at right angles thereto, openings 49 are provided in the band 45 through which the side bar D extends. When the cam plate 9 is turned, the band will not only be clamped against the parts of the frame extending through it, but the said parts will also be forced tightly together.

The upper faces of the side bars, end rails and cross bars are provided with grooves 50, the bottom and sides of which are rounded so that the outside parts of the grooves are narrower than the sides. These grooves extend longitudinally of the bars and rails, and in them I place spring pins or hooks 51 for engaging and holding the edges of the curtain. As appears from Figs. 5 and 6 these pins are made of wire, preferably brass, that is coiled so as to form a round body portion that fits in the grooves 50, one end of the coil being formed into a hooked pin 52, and the other end 53 extending outwardly over the top of the bar or rail. By this construction, the pins may be adjusted back and forth in the grooves and spaced as desired, the tendency of the coil being to hold the tip of the pin against the surface of the rail or bar so as to prevent the accidental disengagement of the pin from the curtain, and to also hold the pin against accidental movement in the grooves. As appears from Fig. 3, the bars and rails are rabbeted at 54, so that the curtain will be pinned at the rabbet and the pins will not project beyond the upper surface of the bars and rails. The pins shown in Figs. 5 and 6 are alike except that the wire is twisted in opposite directions.

As appears from Fig. l, the clips 5 are open opposite the grooves in order that they will not interfere with the movement of the pins.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

I. In a curtain stretcher, folding members, a flat plate secured to one of said members, said plate being provided with a circularly-shaped slot that is concentric with the inner angle of said members when unfolded, and screws on the other member projecting loosely through said slot, the construction being such that as the members are folded, one of the same will turn about its inner corner and the screws will travel in the slot and thus constitute a hinge for be members.

In a curtain stretcher, folding members, a fiat plate secured to one of said members, said plate being provided with a circularly-shaped slot that is concentric with the inner angle of said members when unfolded, screws on the other member projecting loosely through said slot, the construction being such that as the members are folded, one of the same will turn about its inner corner and the screws will travel in the slot and thus constitute a hinge for the members, and means for clamping the second memher to the said plate.

3. In a curtain stretcher, folding members, a flat plate secured to one of said members, said plate projecting in the direction of the other member when the same is in extended position and forming a support therefor, said plate also being provided with a circularly-shaped slot that is concentric with the inner angle of said members when unfolded, and screws in said second member, said screws projecting loosely through the slot so that, as the members are folded, one of the same will turn about its inner corner and the said screws will travel in the slot.

4. In a curtain stretcher, folding members, a fiat plate secured to one of said members, said plate projecting in the direction of the other member when the same is in extended position and forming a support therefor, said plate also being provided with a circularly-shaped slot that is concentric with the inner angle of said members when unfolded, screws in said second member, said screws projecting loosely through the slot so that, as the members are folded, one of the same will turnabout its inner corner and the said screws will travel in the slot, and means for clamping the said second member to the plate. I

5. In a curtain stretcher, a pair of members, said mem bers being adjustable relatively to each other, a hooked plate carried by one of said members and extending partially about the other member, a second plate upon the same member that carries the hooked plate and a cam lever pivoted to the second plate and adapted to engage with the hooked plate, the construction being such that when said cam lever is turned the said members will be securely clamped together.

(i. In a curtain stretcher, a pair of members, said members being adjustable relatively to each other, a hooked plate carried by one of said members and extending partially about and above the other member, a slotted plate upon the same member that carries the hooked plate screws passing loosely through the slots in the plate, a cam lever pivoted to the slotted plate and adapted to engage with the extended part of the hooked plate, the construction being such that when said slotted plate is moved to throw the cam lever into engagement with the hooked plate and the cam lever is then turned, the said members will be securely clamped together.

7. In a curtain stretcher, a pair of members that are relatively adjustable, a hooked plate carried by one of said members and extending partially about the other member. a slotted plate secured to the same member that carries the hooked plate, a pivoted lever secured to the slotted plate. a cam on said pivoted lever and a projection on the hooked plate with which said cam is adapted to engage, the

construction being such that when the pivoted lever is turned the said members will be securely clamped together.

8. In a curtain stretcher, a pair of members that are relatively adjustable, a hooked plate carried by one of said members and extending partially about the other member, a slotted plate secured to the same member that carries the hooked plate, but having longitudinal movement thereon, a pivoted lever secured to theslotted plate, a cam on said pivoted lever and a projection on the hooked plate with which said cam is adapted to engage, the construction being such that when the slotted plate is moved toward the hooked plate and the cam is engaged with said projection and the lever is then turned, the said members will be securely clamped together.

9. In a curtain stretcher, side bars and end rails, means for adjustably securing together said bars and rails so as to form an open rectangular frame, said bars and rails being provided on their upper surfaces with a slot ex tending longitudinally thereof and coiled spring curtain pins movably mounted in said slots, the coiled body of said pins resting in the slots and the free ends of the pins extending on either side of the slot and engaging with the surface of the bar or rail.

10. In a curtain stretcher, side bars and end rails, means for udjustably securing together said bars and railsso as to form an open rectangular frame, said bars and rails being provided in their upper surfaces with a rabbet and a slot extending longitudinally thereof and coiled spring curtain pins movably mounted in said slots, the coiled body of said pins resting in the slots and the free ends of the pins extending on either side of the slot and engaging with the surface of the bar or rail, the points of the pins extending into the angles formed by the rabbets.

11. In a curtain stretcher, a member having a groove on its upper surface, said groove being narrower at its outer portion than it is within said portion, a coiled spring pin movably mounted in said groove, the coil of the pin resting in the groove and the ends of the coil projecting on opposite sides of the groove and resting upon the upper surface of said member.

12. In a curtain stretcher, a member having a groove and a rabbet on its upper surface, said groove being parallel withthe rabbet and being narrower at its outer portion than it is within said portion, a coiled spring pin movably mounted in said groove, the coil of the pin resting in the groove and the ends of the coil projecting on opposite sides of the groove and resting upon the upper surface of said member, the point of the pin extending into the angle formed by the rabbet.

13. In a curtain stretcher, a pair of members crossing each other at an angle, a plate folded into an open rectangle, the free edges of said plate lying in different planes and said plate being provided with openings in two of its opposite sides, one of said members passing through said openings and the other member passing through the plate below said opening and a cam lever pivoted to one end of said plate and engaging with the other end thereof, the construction being such that when the cam lever is turned, the plate will be clamped upon the said members and the members will be securely pressed together.

14. In a curtain stretcher, a pair of members crossing each other at an angle, a plate folded into an open rectangle, the free edges of said plate lying in different planes and said plate being provided with openings in two of its opposite sides. one of said members passing through said openings and the other member passing through the plate below said opening, a cam lever pivoted to one end of said plate, a curved cam on said plate, the curvature of the cam being eccentric to the pivot of the plate, said cam engaging the other end of the plate, the construction being such that, as the lever is turned, the plate will be clamped upon the said members and the members will be securely pressed together.

15. In a curtain stretcher, a center bar, a plate rigidly secured to one end of the bar, a side rail formed of two sections which, when extended, abut at their ends, means for clamping said sections of the side bar to said plate so as to hold the sections in extended position, said plate being provided with curved slots that are concentrically arranged with respect to the inner corners of said members, and screws entering said members and passing loosely through said slots, the construction being such that when the members are folded over the center rail, they will turn about their inner corners. the screw and the circular slots in said plate forming a hinge therefor.

16. In a curtain stretcher, a center bar, a circular plate rigidly secured to one end of the bar, a side bar formed of two sections which, when extended, abut at their ends, means for clamping said sections of the side bar to said &

plate so as to hold the sections in extended position, said plate being provided with curved slots that are concentrically arranged with respect to the inner corners of said members, screws entering said members and passing loosely through said slots, the construction being such that when the members are folded over the center rail, they will turn about their inner corners, the screw and the circular slots in said plate forming a hinge therefor, a second side bar adjustably secured to the center bar, and end drills adjustably secured to the side bars.

17. In a curtain stretcher, a center rail that is pro vided with a longitudinal slot, a pair of plates on opposite sides of said rail, a threaded bolt passing through said plates and through the said slot, side bar members resting upon one of said plates and having their ends abutting against the sides of the center rail, the latter plate being provided with a curved slot on each side of the center rail, said slots being concentric with the inner corners of their respective side bar members, screws entering said members and passing loosely through the said slots. and a nut on the said threaded belt for clamping the said plates against the ends of the said bar members for holding the latter extended, the construction being such that when said nut is loosened the members may be folded against the sides of the center rail, the screw and the slots pro viding a hinge for said members.

18. In a curtain stretcher, a center rail that is provided with a longitudinal slot, a pair of plates on opposite sides of said rail. a threaded bolt passing through said plates and through the said slot, side bar members resting upon one of said plates and having their ends abutting against the sides of the center rail, the latter plate being provided with a curved slot on each side of the center rail, said slots being concentric with the inner corners of their respective side bar members, screws entering said members and passing loosely through the said slots, a nut on the said threaded bolt for clamping the said plates against the ends of the said bar members for holding the latter extended, the construction being such that when said nut is loosened the members may be folded against the sides of the center rail, the screw and the slots providing a hinge for said member, a second side bar secured to the center rail, and end rails adjustably secured to the side bars.

19. In a curtain stretcher, a center rail, :1 plate secured to the upper surface of the center rail near one of its ends, a pair of sidebar members resting upon said plate and abutting at their inner ends. means for clamping said members to said plate, a second plate adjustably mounted below and toward the opposite end of the center rail. side bar members resting on said second plate and having their inner ends abutting the sides of the rail, means for clamping said members to the said second plate the construction be ing such that when the clamping members are loosened. the side bar members at one end of the center rail will fold together over said rail and the side bar means at the opposite end of the center rail will fold along the side of said rail, and end rails adapted to be adjustably secured to the side bars when the latter are extended.

0. In a curtain stretcher, a center rail that is provided near one or its ends with a longitudinal slot. a plate secured to the upper surface of the center rail near the end opposite the slot, a pair of side bar. members resting upon said plate and abutting at their inner ends, said plate being provided with curved slots that are concentric with the inner corners of said members, screws in said members and extending loosely through the slots in said plate, means for clamping said members to said plate, a slotted plate adjustably mounted below the slotted end of the center rail, side bar members resting on said second plate and having their inner ends abutting the sides of the rail, said second plate being provided with slots that are concentric with the inner corners of said side bar members, screws in said members and extending loosely through the slots in said second plate, means for clamping said members to the said second plate. the construction being such that when the clamping means are loosened, the side bar members at one end of the center rail will told together over said rail and the side bar members at the opposite end of the second rail will fold along the side of said rail, and end rails adapted to be adjustably secured to the side bars when the latter:

are extended.

21. In a curtain stretcher, a center rail, a plate rigidly a secured to the upper side of said center rail at one end there side bar members supported by said plate and abutting at their ends, means for clamping said side bar members together, a second plate adjustably mounted on the lower side of the center rail near the opposite end thereof, side bar members supported by said second plate, said members having their ends abutting against the sides of the center rail, means for clamping said members to the said second plate, end rails adjustably mounted on the members oi the side bars, and means for clamping said rails and bars together so as to form an open frame.

22. In a curtain stretcher, a center rail, a plate rigidly secured to the upper side of said center rail at one end thereof. side bar members pivotally mounted on said plate and abutting at their ends, means for clamping said side bar members together on the plate, a second plate adjustably mounted on the lower side of the center rail near the opposite end thereof, side bar members pivotally mounted on said .cond plate, said members having their ends abutting against the sides of the center rail, means for clamping said members to the said second plate, end rails adjustably mounted on the members of the side bars, and means for clamping said rails and bars together so as to form an open frame, the construction being such that, when the end rails are removed and the clamping means are loosened, the side bar members may be folded alongside the center rail.

In a curtain stretcher, a center rail, a flat plate rigidly secured to the upper surface of said center rail at one of its ends. side bar members abutting at their ends over said plate. means for clamping said members to the plate, a second plate adjustably mounted on the lower side of the center rail near its opposite end, side bar members resting upon said second plate and abutting with their inner ends against the sides of the center rail, lugs projecting from said second plate on opposite sides of the center rail. means for clamping the members of the side bar to the said second plate, end rails adjustably mounted upon the members of the side bars, clamping devices for securing the said end rails to the sections of one of said bars so that the rails and one side bar will lie in the same plane. and clamping devices for the opposite ends of the end rails and the corresponding side bar, the construction of the lat ter clamping means being such that the side bar passes over the end rails, grooves formed in the upper surface of each of the side bars and end rails and coiled spring pins movably mounted in said grooves.

Z-l. In a curtain stretcher, a center rail, a flat plate rigidly secured to the upper surface of said center rail at one of its ends, side rail members abutting at their ends over said plate, means for clamping said members to the plate. a second plate adjustably mounted on the lower side of the center rail near its opposite end, side bar members resting upon said second plate and abutting with their inner ends 1 ainst the sides of the center rail, lugs projecting from said second plate on opposite sides of the center rail. means for clamping the members of the side bar to the said second plate, end rails adjustably mounted upon the members of the side bars. clamping devices for securing the said end rails to the sections of one of said side bars so that the rails and side bar will lie in the same plane, and clamping devices for the opposite ends of the end rails and the corresponding side bar, the construction of the latter clamping means being such that the side bar passes over the end rails, grooves formed in the upper surface of each of the side bars and end rails and coiled spring pins movably mounted in said grooves said pins having their coiled body portions in the grooves and the ends of the coil projecling over the tops of the bars and rails.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK s. STANFIELI).

Witnesses S. E. Fours, .I, B. HULL. 

